Breast Cancer Risk Factors | Preventing Breast Cancer
Appointments With A Breast Health Specialist

Risk factors are simply traits that may increase your chances of getting breast cancer-not indications that you definitely will or will not have the disease.

Age

As a woman ages, her risk of breast cancer increases. About 77 percent of women with breast cancer are over age 50 when diagnosed.

Family History

Your risk may be greater if your mother, sister or daughter has had breast cancer. However, 80 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in women with no family history of the disease.

Breast Conditions

Certain conditions such as fibrocystic changes, benign breast tumors or breast inflammation may all be non-cancerous, but raise a warning flag to be diligent in receiving regular, thorough screenings.

Menstrual Cycle

Women who have had either an early first period, before age 12, or started menopause after age 50 have a slightly increased risk for breast cancer. The longer the female hormone estrogen has been active in your body, the greater your risk.

Having No Children

Women who have never given birth have experienced continuous menstrual cycles until menopause and, therefore, increased exposure to estrogen.

Having First Pregnancy After Age 30

Subjecting your body to hormonal changes later in life may contribute to breast cancer risk.

Mammography

Mammography plays an important role in early detection of breast cancer, however there are also some important lifestyle factors that can actually help reduce your risk of developing this disease.

Diet

Eat more fruits and vegetables. There are antioxidants in all fruits and vegetables that help prevent cancer. Among the best are onions, garlic, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots, turnips, papaya, pineapple and blueberries.

Exercise

Get more exercise. The risk of breast cancer is reduced by 40 percent among women who exercise three to four hours per week at moderate to vigorous levels.

Maintain A Healthy Weight

Women who are overweight have more fatty tissue. In fatty tissue, more hormone precursors are converted to estrogen and this increased estrogen level increases the risk of breast cancer. Adult weight gain increases risk for breast cancer in women over the age of 50. Women who gain more than 40 lbs from age 18 to age 50 experience nearly a 30 percent increase risk in breast cancer.

Don't Smoke

Carcinogens found in tobacco products are felt to increase the risk of many cancers, including cancer of the breast.

Limit Use Of Alcohol

Alcohol increases production of estrogen and this can increase your risk of developing breast cancer.

Prescription Medicines

Doctors at the Breast Health Center can now accurately assess your personal risks for developing breast cancer. If your risks are excessively high, we may recommend prescription medicinal therapy that will cut your risks by 70 percent.

For Early Detection Of Breast Disease

Have Regular Mammograms-Mammography can detect very small changes in the breast, especially those that cannot be felt by you or your healthcare professional.

Have Regular Check-ups-See your primary care health professional for a yearly physical examination.

Perform Monthly Breast Self Examinations- Doing a monthly breast self-examination helps you become familiar with your own breast tissue so you can detect a change if it should occur and report it to your doctor. Monthly self-breast examinations are simple to perform and can save lives.

A Breast Health Specialist is a Registered Nurse who has specialized in the area of breast health care and breast cancer. As a clinician, the Breast Health Specialist can:

• perform routine breast screening examinations.
• teach women how to do a thorough breast self-examination.
• perform initial Risk Assessment evaluations to help identify women who may be at significantly increased risk for the subsequent development of breast cancer.

If you wish to make an appointment with one of our Breast Health Specialists, call the Breast Health Center at 570-326-8200 Monday through Friday, between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. Check first with your insurance company to see if these appointments are a covered benefit.